Things may have panned out differently, however, had Adam Wixted’s second-minute volley beat Gary Rogers, the Dundalk goalkeeper making a fine save to turn the ball over his crossbar.

The 2015 cup winners pulled in front in the fifth minute when Connolly’s cross found Michael Duffy at the back post and he took advantage of some poor defending by Dave Mulcahy to lift the ball over Stephen McGuinness.

Dundalk sought a second and the tie was all but put to bed in the 28th minute when Connolly picked the ball up, set himself and took aim from 30 yards, his curling effort flying inside the helpless McGuinness’ left-hand post.

Drogheda posed few problems in the final third and they were fortunate to go in just two goals down with McEleney blazing over after forcing himself into a shooting position on the edge of theox.

Any notions that Dundalk might settle for what they had were dispelled when Brian Gartland headed a Duffy free-kick past McGuinness on 49 minutes.

Connolly should have made it four but he steered his effort wide under pressure from Dave Mulcahy. However, the former Bray winger made amends in the 57th minute when he was upended in the box after a surging run and McMillan hammered home the spot kick.

Luke Gallagher went close to pulling one back for the Drogs but his cracking effort came back off the woodwork with Rogers beaten.

Drogheda were on the back foot again in the 67th minute when Duffy rounded McGuinness only to see his attempt hacked off the line.

Substitute Steven Kinsella was also denied by a last ditch clearance before McMillan missed a late sitter to make it 5-0 before referee Neil Doyle finally put Drogheda out of their misery.